diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 08737b7..8152a44 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -155,6 +155,27 @@ tms_write_reg(7, 0x1F);
 byte oldvalue = tms_regs_latch[7];
 ```
 
+### Working with sprites
+
+```c
+// set 8x8 or 16x16 sprites
+tms_set_sprite_double_size(0);
+
+// set single pixel or double pixel sprites
+tms_set_sprite_magnification(1);
+
+// define the sprite pattern 0
+tms_copy_to_vram(ghost, 8, TMS_SPRITE_PATTERNS);
+
+// define a sprite using the "sprite" struct
+tms_sprite spr;
+spr.x = 100;
+spr.y = 50;
+spr.name = 0;  // pattern 0
+spr.color = COLOR_BLACK;
+tms_set_sprite(0, &spr);
+```
+
 #### Working directly with the I/O chip interface
 
 If you want to program the VDP directly you can use the following utility functions:
diff --git a/lib/screen1.h b/lib/screen1.h
index 26d933a..133e561 100644
--- a/lib/screen1.h
+++ b/lib/screen1.h
@@ -9,11 +9,8 @@ const word SCREEN1_SIZE = (32*24);
 void screen1_load_font() {
    byte *source = FONT;
 
-   // start writing into VRAM from space character (32..127)
-   tms_set_vram_write_addr(TMS_PATTERN_TABLE+(32*8));
-   for(word i=768;i!=0;i--) {
-      TMS_WRITE_DATA_PORT(*source++);
-   }
+   // copy normal FONT 32..127
+   tms_copy_to_vram(source, 768, TMS_PATTERN_TABLE+(32*8));
 
    // reverse font (32..127)
    source = FONT;
diff --git a/lib/sprites.h b/lib/sprites.h
index 65374cf..44fe62e 100644
--- a/lib/sprites.h
+++ b/lib/sprites.h
@@ -1,5 +1,39 @@
 #ifndef SPRITES_H
 #define SPRITES_H
+
+typedef struct {
+   byte y;
+   byte x;
+   byte name;
+   byte color;
+} tms_sprite;
+
+#define SIZEOF_SPRITE 4
+
+void tms_set_sprite(byte sprite_num, tms_sprite *s) {
+   word addr = TMS_SPRITE_ATTRS + (word) (sprite_num * SIZEOF_SPRITE);
+   tms_set_vram_write_addr(addr);
+
+   // TODO verify NOPs on real machine
+   // TODO is it better to use tms_copy_to_vram() ?
+   TMS_WRITE_DATA_PORT(s->y);     NOP; // y coordinate
+   TMS_WRITE_DATA_PORT(s->x);     NOP; // x coordinate
+   TMS_WRITE_DATA_PORT(s->name);  NOP; // name
+   TMS_WRITE_DATA_PORT(s->color); NOP; // color
+}
+
+void tms_set_sprite_double_size(byte size) {
+   byte regval = tms_regs_latch[1] & (REG1_SIZE_MASK ^ 0xFF);
+   if(size) regval |= REG1_SIZE_MASK;
+   tms_write_reg(1, regval);
+}
+
+void tms_set_sprite_magnification(byte m) {
+   byte regval = tms_regs_latch[1] & (REG1_MAG_MASK ^ 0xFF);
+   if(m) regval |= REG1_MAG_MASK;
+   tms_write_reg(1, regval);
+}
+
 // clears all the sprites
 void tms_clear_sprites() {
    // fills first sprite pattern with 0
@@ -11,10 +45,10 @@ void tms_clear_sprites() {
    // set sprite coordinates to (0,0) and set pattern name 0
    tms_set_vram_write_addr(TMS_SPRITE_ATTRS);       
    for(byte i=0;i<32;i++) {
-      TMS_WRITE_DATA_PORT((6+i)*8); NOP; NOP; NOP; NOP; // y coordinate
-      TMS_WRITE_DATA_PORT((6+i)*8); NOP; NOP; NOP; NOP; // x coordinate
-      TMS_WRITE_DATA_PORT(0);       NOP; NOP; NOP; NOP; // name
-      TMS_WRITE_DATA_PORT(i);       NOP; NOP; NOP; NOP; // color
+      TMS_WRITE_DATA_PORT(0); NOP; NOP; NOP; NOP; // y coordinate
+      TMS_WRITE_DATA_PORT(0); NOP; NOP; NOP; NOP; // x coordinate
+      TMS_WRITE_DATA_PORT(0); NOP; NOP; NOP; NOP; // name
+      TMS_WRITE_DATA_PORT(0); NOP; NOP; NOP; NOP; // color
    }
 }
 #endif
diff --git a/lib/tms9918.h b/lib/tms9918.h
index b99321d..33ecfa3 100644
--- a/lib/tms9918.h
+++ b/lib/tms9918.h
@@ -164,6 +164,15 @@ inline void tms_wait_end_of_frame() {
    while(!FRAME_BIT(TMS_READ_CTRL_PORT));
 }
 
+// loads the font on the pattern table
+void tms_copy_to_vram(byte *source, word size, word dest) {
+   // start writing into VRAM from space character (32..127)
+   tms_set_vram_write_addr(dest);
+   for(word i=size;i!=0;i--) {
+      TMS_WRITE_DATA_PORT(*source++);
+   }
+}
+
 #include "apple1.h"
 #include "font8x8.h"
 #include "sprites.h"